Protein of The Month

July: Fibrinogen

Origin: Fibrinogen is a glycoprotein in vertebrates that helps in the formation of blood clots.

Application: The amount of fibrinogen in the plasma can serve as a nonspecific indicator of whether or not an inflammatory process is present in the body. Also, surgical or mass trauma patients may receive fibrinogen to stop blood loss.

How: Fibrinogen is part of the coagulation cascade of proteins. Conversion of soluble fibrinogen to fibrin causes it to polymerize and form an insoluble mesh, contributing to cover the wound.

Did you know: Fibrinogen is the third most common blood protein type behind albumins and globulins.